This week’s Torah portion- Yitro
Posted by Eli Dahan on February 4, 2010 under Weekly Portions | 
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Meaning of the name
The portion is named 
, the Hebrew name for Jethro, because the beginning of the portion
tells us of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, who comes to see him in the desert.
At the beginning of the portion we hear of Jethro, the Midianite priest who was Moses’ father in law, who came to meet Moses in the desert, bringing Moses’ wife, Zipporah, and their two sons, with him. Jethro came after hearing of all the great miracles God performed for the Israelites, and after hearing Moses’ account of the miracles, he announces his faith in the mighty God.
After arriving, Jethro sees that Moses is busy from day to night judging the people with every little judgment that comes up. He then suggests that instead of bothering Moses with every little thing, a system which will bring to his collapse, Moses should appoint judges, to whom he will teach the laws of God, and they will judge the people. He suggests a hierarchy which will enable more difficult cases to be brought before more superior judges, and the most difficult cases will be brought before Moses himself. Moses accepts his father-in-law’s advice, and then sends him back to his home.
We then arrive at the climax of the portion and one of the most important parts of the Pentateuch: the Sinai revelation and the giving of the Ten Commandments. Moses goes up to Mount Sinai, and God gives him instructions as to how the people must prepare for the revelation, by cleansing themselves. They are also forbidden to approach the mountain. On the third day, God comes down on the smoky mountain, and delivers the Ten Commandments to them.
After the revelation, the people ask Moses to bring God’s word to them from now, because hearing God speak to them directly caused them great fear. Moses then approaches God and is given instructions as to the proper altar that is to be built to worship God.
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